CENSUS OF HOMELESS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 385, 17 March 1937, Page 2

CENSUS OF HOMELESS.

London’s Sleepers-out. | In a few weeks’ time London County Council officials will be setting out on their annual midnight jensus of men., women and children who- are sleeping out. More or less steadily, the nunfoer has. been dropping since 1904. Thirty i years ago the officials, moving about | the places which by long tradition | afford sanctuary from police penetra- ) lion, found over 1700 outcasts; and i 50 of them were children. Last year 52 men and eight Women were found, 17 fewer than in 1535. When other homeless in "London (those under cover) were totalled up that night there were found to be 2927 (six children) against 3421 (1G children) a year before. Again this yEiar, as in previous

years, it may be shown that at the - L.C.C. casual wards on census night were three empty beds to every eleepcr-out. f Why do the sleepers-out not go and’ i claim beds Why do hundreds of others prefer to spend the night in sit-up shelters? The reason is that moi-.t of them do not want to face the rule by which able-bodied visitors are detained two nights and made to chop wood 'and scrub. Voluntarily conducted shelters usually ask no questions, make no conditions. A shakedown with freedom, looks more attractive than a bed, a bath, meals—and detention. The greatest proportion of homeless wanderers are young men and women aged between 20 and 30; the second greatest proportion, the help lest' too-old j at-40 wrecks. Both divisions are victims of unemployment.

According to some of the tobacconists, a lot of their customers are succumbing to the fascination of “rolling their own,’’ and abandoning the pipe in favour of the seductive cigarette. But the pipe will never lose its attraction for multitudes of smokers, although the popularity of cigarettes is beyond question, as the everincreasing demand for the two foremost cigarette tobaccos, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold, conclusively proves. These fascinating blends are not only ideal for cigarettes (you can roll ten full-sized ones for 4d. or

less!), but, like the toasted pipe tobaccos Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, and Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), they’re remarkable lor purity. Brands there are unfortunately which, if the health is valued, are best avoided, for they’re rank with nicotine. But this can never be said of “toasted,” which emerges from the toasting process as free from nicotine as tobacco can possibly be, and sweet, fragrant, cool and comforting, is a joy to the smoker. The brands named are the only genuine “toasted.” Bear that in mind when you buy!